If it weren’t for the fact that it had been filmed for a long time, one might think that the melancholy tone that has season 5 of ‘The Crown’, which arrives today complete on Netflix, is influenced by the death of Queen Elizabeth II this past September.
Without being the case, this seems entirely appropriate for episodes that portray what is by far the most tumultuous decade for the recent history of the British monarchy: the 1990s. And that has been noted with several major voices against it (including former Prime Minister John Major and actress Judi Dench).
In fact, from Netflix and the production company they have been aware and a large part of the message during the promotion of the season (which includes the press conference this Tuesday) has affected that, on the one hand, it’s a fiction and on the other, that they have a gigantic documentary archive with whom they have worked.
Documentation issues and accusations of sensationalism aside, this season also comes with the novelty of having a renewed cast: Imelda Staunton as Isabel, Jonathan Pryce as Felipe, Dominic West and Elizabeth Debicki as Carlos and Diana, Lesley Manville as Margarita, etc.
The look at what we were
Like season 3, this one begins with its readjustments, influencing the passage of time, the indefatigable advance of age. To this, moreover, Peter Morgan adds a layer almost of nostalgia, of a look at the past in which the protagonists face obsolescence, new times and the awareness that “there is no longer for many” (there we have , for example, Princess Margaret).
Beyond the scandals (the chained divorces of the princes and especially that of Carlos and Diana), this season 5 of ‘The Crown’ he gives the impression that he wants to tell too many things judging by the amount of frames that we find.
We could even say that there is certain spirit of anthology in which we find episodes dedicated exclusively to, for example, the origin and rise of Mohammed Fayed (Salim Daw) from Egypt and his fascination with the monarchy. An episode that also serves to prepare Diana’s romance with Dodi.
A somewhat scattered season but with excellent production
It’s not that in previous seasons we haven’t had “individual” episodes or something more anthological but one noticed something more unitary the corresponding batch despite the fact that episode after episode can take several months. In general, in terms of plot we find the most dispersed season.
We could even talk about fairly redundant… and even obvious. Beyond the events that mark the British royal agenda, the topics to be discussed are not very different from those of past seasons. This means that there is a certain thematic repetition with conclusions or speeches that we have already seen.
Beyond that, it is undeniable that ‘The Crown’ is still one of the best series today. The renewed cast is outstanding and the production has not rested on its laurels one bit in the excellence and luxury that they recreate.